Resilient wheel



March 2, 1948. H. A. WELLS Filed Nov. 24, 1943 2 Sheets Sheet 1 /7/0MEP 7 M911 5 Mar ch 2, 1948.

H. A. WELLS RES ILIENT WHEEL Filed Nov. 24, 1943 2-SheetsSheet 2 HOMER. WELLS 4 Patented Mar. 2, 1948 UNITED Sm-Es PATENT OFFICE BESILIENT WHEEL Homer A. Wells, Sacramento, Calif. Application November 24, 1943, Serial No. 511,589

the latter category.

,Envisioned on the'basis of more explicit lines, I have in mind the provision of a suitable and satisfactory wheel construction characterized by a hub and an appropriate felly or rim, and resil- 'ient tread means coacting with said rim, the

tread means being in'ithenature of a tire in that it embodies a. combination and association of suitably shaped and mounted springs and rubber ,15 or equivalent pad Iik'e'tfeadS carried by the free ends of said springs.

The specific adaptation, which is the preferred embodiment of my invention, is thought to be novel, compared to analogous prior art structures,

but appropriately constructed to measure up to the standards of a resilient tread structure for traction wheels of the general types specified.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings. 0

' approximate C-shaped formed it will be noticed In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a wheel embodying a resilient tread construction perfected in accordance with the principles of the instant invention.

Figure 2 is a marginal edge elevation of the structure seen in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. Figure 4 is a section on the irregular line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3, this taken on the plane of the line 55 of Figure 1.

tion 1 may be of any appropriate type. It is here shown as in the form of a hub having a disk-like web and a felly, the web being denoted at 8 and the felly at 9. In cross section the configuration of the parts 8 and 9 is substantially T-shaped.

to resilient felly '9.

-2 Claims. (Cl. 152-280) complemental units which go to make up the tread or tire are denoted by the reference characters A and B, respectively. All of the units,

however, are the same in construction and the description of one will suflice for any or all. To this end each unit comprises a flat metal spring whose free end portion lo'overlies therim or This is bowed to assume an arcuate curvature of desired degree. The intermediate portion of the spring, as indicated at H, is somewhat c-shaped'in form and this merges into a "return bend I2 whose terminal l3 underlies the rim and is riveted or otherwise fastened thereto as indicated at I 4. The portions III, II and I2 are individually flexible, as it were, and collectively coordinate to properly anchor the spring strap and to at the same time place the portion In appropriately in a direction radially outward of the rim 9. This portion In is provided with longitudinally spaced apertures IE to accommodate the substantially rectangular anchoring and assembling lugs IS on the rectangular block-like pads ll. The pads and lugs are obviously integral and are moulded on the metal foundation formed by the part [0. Thus, each pad becomes a tread element and all of the elements in conjunction with their foundation portions 10 constitute the I complete sectional resilient tread for the wheel.

While the intermediate portion or the spring adapter and anchoring element is said to be of that the complete spring, when it is finally bent and looking at it from end to end is, to an extent, approximately G-shaped. Consequently, we have a series of circumferentially spaced G-shaped springs attached in alternate steps to opposite marginal edges of the rim 9, all of the rubber pads being in line and thus circumferentially spaced about the periphery of the wheel. The overall assemblage of parts coordinates with the wheel in providing combination rubber and metal resilient tread means.

As before mentioned it is submitted that a wheel equipped with a close nested sectional tread unit such as herein shown and described is reasonably well suited to heavy duty service, the same being especially useful on wheelbarrows and carts in the same general category as well as on tractors. Perhaps too, and in emergency conditions the improved wheel and tread can be employed on small trucks, and even on automobiles. is not a matchable substitute for pneumatic tires, though it has its place in the broad class The distinguishable alternating staggered and of wheel structures when used in-such limited I am not unmindful that such a structure practice, if desired.

Having described the invention, what claimed as new is:

1. As a new article of manufacture -and-a cornponent part of a resilient wheel of the class described, a flat spring longitudinally sewed 'b tween its ends and bent into G-shapedfonn in.

marginal edge view and including, at one end, a .return bend terminating in straight attaching tip suitable "fo'r at't'aoliiiient to an annularwheel flly, the opposite di'i'tr 'nd'bf said spring being iapefmrea, and an elongated block l'ike rubber pad, saidb'ad being r vi 1 with lugs-moulded intothe apertures to cure the fiaa'm-piaee.

2.1m resilient when" structionfof'the class described, a I a "cerium hub, a 'vfiifsc-like "we'b por bittj'idirig radially from "said hub and fan nfulajr Iellys'ufrounding "the outer marginal per "on er said web and defining fa "rim tincture is semen-dairy T-shaped "in cross section, and a "plurality "er adapter rings, eachfspring mg of fiaffoi'fiiation, lon- 'gituamany bowed between its ends and bent into eluding, at one end, a return bend terminating in a straight attaching tip, the attaching tips of the adjacent pairs of adapter springs being secured to the inner peripheral portions of said felly and in alternate order on opposite sides of the web, the outer free end portions of the respective adapter springs overlying the outer peripheral surface of said felly in radially spaced relation, and resilientipadscarried by the outer f'suffaces iffthe free eildjpoi'ti ons cream springs, the respective and adjacent pads being in close spaced relationship and independently operable but assuming collective positions to provide a restrain tread surrounding the entire felly.

HOMER A. WELLS.

immmmcns CITED ti he following references are of record in the file of this patent:

emains manure ewer, 1;549; ,60

1339439 y I 1,3223% Benjamin's July 1 8, 1922 states For; Mar. 28, 1911 53,925; liliebe-rthal ioct. 2, 1900 11 1513 Neiihaiusn Apr. 27,1915 $68,42 A'isit, i jne'c. 26, i905 if ijesyri Ye'aliel l June 24, 1924 1,174,879 Lotte'f 7,1916 FQREIG'N PATENTS m e, 9,633 France 7-. 190's 

